Gameplay

Magnum (gameplay)

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Magnum
H2A M6CPistol.png
Gameplay role

Faction:

Human (UNSC)

Weapon tier (?):

Tier-1 Loadout / Dual wield weapon

Weapon class (?):

Pistol

Weapon type (?):

Kinetic Precision weapon

Firing mode:

Semi-automatic

Effective range:

Close to medium

Counterparts:

Human (UNSC)
Sidekick
Covenant
Plasma Pistol
Mauler
Banished
Mangler
Forerunner
Boltshot
Weapon stats

Damage:

Low to medium

Projectile speed:

Medium to very high

Rate of fire:

Low to high

Accuracy:

Medium to very high

Magazine size:

Varies

Zoom:

Varies

Variants and attachments

Standard variant(s):

 

The Magnum is a human precision weapon featured in most major Halo games, starting with Halo 2. A successor to the Halo: Combat Evolved Pistol, it has gone through a wide variety of changes from game to game resulting in a few weapon variants as well. What remains consistent is its role as a human pistol capable of performing headshots and featuring either dual wielding or a scope. It is a predecessor to Halo Infinite's Sidekick.

Universe and lore

Main article: M6 Series
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Overview

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Notable Variants

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Counterparts

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Halo: Combat Evolved

Main article: Halo: Combat Evolved Pistol

The term Magnum never appears in Halo: Combat Evolved, instead featuring the CE Pistol. The Pistol serves a completely different gameplay role from the Magnum, behaving more like a rifle than a sidearm. Despite the actual term magnum referring to a type of pistol, later appearances would retroactively classify the Pistol as a variant of Magnum. The Magnum would remain the typic human handgun of the Halo game series, even adopting traits from the CE Pistol, until being replaced by the Sidekick in Halo Infinite.

Halo 2 and Halo 2: Anniversary

Magnum
H2 M6C Magnum Pistol.png
Gameplay role

Weapon tier (?):

Dual wield weapon

Effective range:

Close

Counterparts:

Covenant
Plasma Pistol
Weapon stats

Damage:

SP: 8 (can headshot)

MP: 5.5 (can headshot)

Damage type (?):

bullet_slow

Projectile speed:

400 wu/s

Max range:

40 wu

Rate of fire:

0.1s fire recovery time
(10 rounds per second)

Spread (?):

0.25 to 1.5 degrees

Magazine size:

12 rounds

Reserve ammo capacity:

48 rounds (4 magazines)

Tag name (?):

magnum [1]

 
Main article: First-person shooter

Campaign

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Multiplayer

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Changes from Halo 2 to Auto Update 2

  • Damage decreased to 5.5.

Halo 3

Magnum
A cropped screenshot of the M6G2 magnum in Halo 3.
Gameplay role

Weapon tier (?):

Dual wield weapon

Effective range:

Close

Counterparts:

Human (UNSC)
Automag (MCC)
Covenant
Plasma Pistol
Weapon stats

Damage:

15 (can headshot)
dual: 0.7x (10.5)

Damage type (?):

bullet_slow

Projectile speed:

180 wu/s

Max range:

40 wu

Rate of fire:

0.4s fire recovery time
(2.5 rounds per second)

Spread (?):

0.5 degrees
dual: 0.5 to 1 degrees

Magazine size:

8 rounds

Reserve ammo capacity:

40 rounds (5 magazines)

Tag name (?):

magnum [2]

Variants and attachments

Standard variant(s):

 

Campaign

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Multiplayer

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Halo: Reach

Magnum
HReach-M6GMagnumPistol-LeftSide.png
Gameplay role

Weapon tier (?):

Default: Loadout weapon

Anniversary: Utility weapon

Firing mode:

Default: Semi-automatic

Anniversary: Automatic

Effective range:

Close to medium

Counterparts:

Default:

Covenant
Plasma Pistol

Anniversary:

Human (UNSC)
DMR
Covenant
Needle Rifle
Weapon stats

Damage:

Default
17.5 (can headshot)
does not pierce shields
Anniversary
26.25 (can headshot)

Damage type (?):

bullet_slow

Projectile speed:

3000 wu/s

Max range:

100 wu

Rate of fire:

Default
0.19s fire recovery time
(~5.26 rounds per second)
Anniversary
0.285s fire recovery time
(~3.51 rounds per second)

Spread (?):

Default
0.6 to 4 degrees
Title Update 1
0.6 to 3.4 degrees

Magazine size:

8 rounds

Reserve ammo capacity:

40 rounds (5 magazines)

Zoom:

2x magnification

Tag name (?):

magnum [3]

 

Campaign and Firefight

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Multiplayer

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Changes from Halo: Reach to Title Update 1

Changes from Title Update 1 to Anniversary Settings

  • Changed firemode to automatic.
  • Increased damage to 150%.
  • Increased fire recovery time to 150% (decreased firerate to 67%).[4]

Halo 4

Magnum
H4-M6HMagnumPistol-SideRender.png
Gameplay role

Weapon tier (?):

Loadout weapon

Effective range:

Close to medium

Counterparts:

Covenant
Plasma Pistol
Weapon stats

Damage:

Default
15 (can headshot)
does not pierce shields
Tuning
17.3 (can headshot)
does not pierce shields

Damage type (?):

bullet_slow

Projectile speed:

3000 wu/s

Max range:

250 wu

Rate of fire:

0.2 fire recovery time
(5 rounds per second)

Spread (?):

0.15 to 1.75 degrees

Magazine size:

8 rounds

Reserve ammo capacity:

32 rounds (4 magazines)
40 rounds with Ammo Mod

Zoom:

2x magnification

Tag name (?):

storm_magnum [5]

Variants and attachments

Standard variant(s):

 

Campaign and Spartan Ops

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Multiplayer

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Changes from Halo 4 to Weapon Tuning Update

  • Damage increased to 115%.[6]

Halo 2: Anniversary Multiplayer

Magnum
A cropped screenshot of the M6C magnum, as depicted in Halo 2: Anniversary's multiplayer component.
Gameplay role

Weapon tier (?):

Loadout / Dual wield weapon

Effective range:

Close to medium

Counterparts:

Covenant
Plasma Pistol
Weapon stats

Damage:

7.25 (can headshot)
does not pierce shields

Damage type (?):

bullet_slow

Projectile speed:

400 wu/s

Max range:

40 wu

Rate of fire:

0.1s fire recovery time
(10 rounds per second)

Spread (?):

0.5 to 1.5 degrees
dual: 0.7 to 1.6 degrees

Magazine size:

12 rounds

Reserve ammo capacity:

48 rounds (4 magazines)

Tag name (?):

h2a_magnum [7]

Variants and attachments

Standard variant(s):

 

Multiplayer

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Changes from Magnum to Survivor Magnum

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Halo 5: Guardians

Disclaimer: all below statistics are derived from unofficial tools and may be inaccurate
Magnum
H5G-Render-Pistol.png
Gameplay role

Weapon tier (?):

Tier-1 Loadout / Utility weapon

Effective range:

Medium

Counterparts:

As a pistol:

Human (UNSC)
CE Pistol
Covenant
Plasma Pistol
Forerunner
Boltshot

As a utility weapon:

Human (UNSC)
(Halo 2) Battle Rifle
DMR
CE Pistol
Covenant
Covenant Carbine
Forerunner
Lightrifle
Weapon stats

Damage:

17.5 (can headshot)
does not pierce shields

Damage type (?):

bullet_slow

Projectile speed:

3000 wu/s

Max range:

250 wu

Rate of fire:

0.28 fire recovery time
(~3.57 rounds per second)

Spread (?):

0 to 0.6 degrees

Magazine size:

12 rounds

Reserve ammo capacity:

48 rounds (4 magazines)
60 rounds with Patrol Case

Zoom:

2x magnification

Tag name (?):

magnum

Variants and attachments

Standard variant(s):

Halo 5 REQ variant(s):

Attachments:

 

Campaign

All members of Blue Team and Fireteam Osiris, with the exception of Olympia Vale (who uses a plasma pistol) outside of the mission Osiris, spawn with a Magnum as their secondary weapon.

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Multiplayer and Warzone

Warzone features the Extended Magazine variant, which increases the magazine size to 24 rounds and increases reserve ammo accordingly.

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Changes from Halo 5: Guardians to Weapon Tuning Update

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Unlock and acquisition requirements

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Variants

Gunfighter Magnum
Main article: Gunfighter Magnum

"Lightweight competition pistol carried by Spartan operators who prefer a no-frills backup firearm. Quick draw Magnum with fast-reload magazines. Iron sights only, no Smart-Link module is attached."
— REQ description

The Gunfighter variant removes the smart-scope feature and features a faster fire rate.

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Tactical Magnum
Main article: Tactical Magnum

"Whisper-quiet tactical pistol loaded with armor-piercing rounds, tailored for Spartan force reconnaissance missions. Match grade Magnum with integral baffle-free suppressor and full-VISR Smart-Link."
— REQ description

The Tactical variant features a silencer and 2× smart-scope, which makes it similar to the automag from Halo 3: ODST and the MCC release of Halo 3.

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Whispered Truth
Main article: Whispered Truth

"Let the lady talk. Mythic Magnum machine pistol with burst fire and integral Silencer. Wielding the Whispered Truth increases movement speed."
— REQ description
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Halo: Combat Evolved Pistol
Main article: Halo: Combat Evolved Pistol

"You’ll have to find ammo as you go. Classic Magnum with increased damage and higher recoil. Infuses the user with nostalgia and increased movement speed."
— REQ description
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Halo Spartan Assault

Main article: Twin-stick shooter

Campaign

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Unlock and acquisition requirements

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Halo Spartan Strike

Campaign

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Unlock and acquisition requirements

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Skins and cosmetics

The Magnum has seen many equipable weapon skins and coatings across the various games it's been featured in.

Halo 4

Main article: Weapon skins (Halo 4)
Magnum
vde
Icon Name Description (MCC) Unlock Requirements (Halo 4) Unlock Requirements (MCC)
Default Default Skin applied. Unlocked by default Unlocked by default
Render of the M6H's Static skin.
Static (STC) Customized with the STATIC skin. Reach Operator Rank (Halo 4)Rank (Halo 4) Unlocked by default
Render of the Magnum's Combustion skin.
Combustion (CBN) Customized with the COMBUSTION skin. Purchase the Champions Bundle or Steel Skin Pack. Series 4, Tier 9 (Spartan Point 1)
Magnumskin1.png
Indigo (IND) Customized with the INDIGO skin. Purchase the Champions Bundle Series 4, Tier 6 (Spartan Point 1)
Magnumskin2.png
Flare (FLR) Customized with the FLARE skin. Purchase the Champions Bundle Series 4, Tier 28 (Spartan Point 1)
H4 Render Magnum-EWK.png
Edgework (EWK) Customized with the EDGEWORK skin. N/A (MCC-exclusive) Series 7, Tier 13 (Spartan Point 1)
H4 Render Magnum-BLOOD.png
Blood (BLD) Customized with the BLOOD skin. N/A (MCC-exclusive) Series 7, Tier 24 (Spartan Point 1)
H4 Render Magnum-PIXEL.png
Pixel (PXL) Customized with the PIXEL skin. N/A (MCC-exclusive) Series 7, Tier 79 (Spartan Point 1)
H4 Render Magnum-MAW.png
Maw (MAW) Customized with the MAW skin. N/A (MCC-exclusive) Series 7, Tier 81 (Spartan Point 1)

Halo 3 (MCC)

Main article: Skins (Halo 3)
Magnum
vde
Icon Name Description Unlock requirements
Default Default skin. Unlocked by default
H3 Pistol HuntersBlood Skin.png
Hunter’s Blood Well armed. Well armored. Series 3, Tier 1 (Spartan Point 1)
H3 Pistol BlueHeaven Skin.png
Blue Heaven Reach for the sky. Series 3, Tier 22 (Spartan Point 1)
H3 Pistol Sharpshooter Skin.png
Sharpshooter The bite stuff. Series 3, Tier 31 (Spartan Point 1)
H3 Pistol Golden Skin.png
Golden Bling on the ring. Series 3, Tier 44 (Spartan Point 1)
H3 Pistol TechCamoBravo Skin.png
Tech Camo Bravo Gunner's seat, please. Series 5, Tier 40 (Spartan Point 1)
H3 Pistol HazardPay Skin.png
Hazard Pay Safety first! Series 5, Tier 57 (Spartan Point 1)
MCC Menu icon.
OGX Used on a select target audience. The Exchange (Spartan Point 3)

Halo 5: Guardians

Main article: List of REQ cards/Weapon Skins

Gallery

Concept art

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Renders

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HUD icons

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Screenshots

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List of appearances

Sources

  1. ^ Halo 2 Editing Kit, game file tags\objects\weapons\pistol\magnum\magnum.weapon
  2. ^ Halo 3 Editing Kit, game file tags\objects\weapons\pistol\magnum\magnum.weapon
  3. ^ Halo: Reach Editing Kit, game file tags\objects\weapons\pistol\magnum\magnum.weapon
  4. ^ Halo: Reach Editing Kit, game file data\multiplayer\megalo\tu1_classic_gametypes.txt
  5. ^ Halo 4 Editing Kit, game file tags\objects\weapons\pistol\storm_magnum\storm_magnum.weapon
  6. ^ Halo 4 Editing Kit, game file data\multiplayer\megalo\weapon_params.txt
  7. ^ Halo 2: Anniversary Multiplayer Editing Kit, game file tags\objects\weapons\h2a_magnum\h2a_magnum.weapon